Escambia Man Gets 20 Years In Prison For Cigarette Theft

An Escambia County man convicted of stealing cigarettes has been sentenced to two decades in prison as a habitual felony offender.

A jury convicted Robert Spellman, 48, of burglary of an unoccupied structure and grand theft. He was sentenced by Judge Jan Shackleford to 20 years in state prison.

On December 28, 2017, Spellman entered a locked manager’s office at a convenience store and took 10 cartons on NewPort cigarettes valued at $691.90.

When caught, he was wearing the same clothing and had the cigarettes in his possession.

Spellman’s prior criminal record includes 14 felony convictions and 31 misdemeanor convictions, including robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, burglary of a dwelling, gun offenses, obstructing a criminal investigation and battery of a law enforcement officer.

Comments

6 Responses to “Escambia Man Gets 20 Years In Prison For Cigarette Theft”

Grand Locust on
September 24th, 2018 5:50 pm

This story just made national news. A million dollars of taxpayer money to keep this dope in jail. The Fox story is questioning the sentence. The easy button was hit, and this offender will cost everybody more money. Half the county budget is going to this nonsense while roads and bridges crumble. This guy is a habitual criminal, but jail has not seemed to work. We need problem solvers who actually fix habitual criminals without bankrupting taxpayers. I say throw away the key on violent offenders, but we have to do a better job identifying why these folks cannot be controlled with punishment which does not bankrupt the taxpayers.

nod on
September 23rd, 2018 11:27 am

Poor guy got sent to jail for 20 years just for stealing a cigarette

mike on
September 22nd, 2018 7:59 am

well, Robert, all the bills are paid you got it made in the shade, Judge Jan has made sure of that. Sad to say there won’t be any smokes, women, booze, etc. the retirement home will be waiting when you get out.

Trocarman on
September 22nd, 2018 7:40 am

With this guy’s criminal’s record why wasn’t he in prison?

TJ on
September 22nd, 2018 6:44 am

WOW, 45 convictions! He should have been put away a long time ago.

Tiko on
September 22nd, 2018 2:59 am

Congratulations. You’re the winner of free housing, food, cable tv, healthcare and the chance to kick your smoking habit. It may have been a good idea to take a few hundred boxes of soap-on-a-rope for your extended visit but maybe a visitor or two will help you out. Needless to say, 14 felonies later and us taxpayers get to foot the bill. Enjoy your stay, you get to collect your Social Security when you get out so it’s an early retirement for you.

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